Date & Time : Monday 27th August, 2018 at 4:00 PM
Venue : SSCU Auditorium
Abstract:
Quantum materials are systems whose properties are governed by quantum behavior and provide a common thread linking frontiers of physics, chemistry, materials science and engineering. In this talk, I will give two examples from our recent work demonstrating intriguing properties of such systems. In the first part, I will focus on emerging three-dimensional topological Dirac materials and describe strategies to engineer the creation, motion and annihilation of Dirac points using alloying [1] and light [2].

In the second part of the talk, I will present a special kind of phase transition that can occur at low temperatures by tuning a non-thermal control parameter and is the driver for exotic quantum phenomena that extend to elevated temperatures. I will present the concept of multiferroic quantum criticality — in which both magnetic and ferroelectric quantum phase transitions occur in the same system — that we have recently introduced [3]. I will describe the associated experimental signatures and material systems to realize it, and highlight possible future directions.
References:
[1] A. Narayan, D. Di Sante, S. Picozzi, and S. Sanvito, Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 256403 (2014).
[2] A. Narayan, Phys. Rev. B 91, 205445 (2015).
[3] A. Narayan, A. V. Balatsky, and N. A. Spaldin, arXiv:1711.07989 (under review).